Feeder for presses.



'No. 653,734 Patented luly I7, I900.

W. M. HOLMES.

FEEDER FOB PBESSES.

(Application filed Aug. 24, 1899.)

(No ModeL) -Da,veni orf v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WATSON M. HOLMES, OF BOSTON, IVIASSACHUSETTS, ASSI'GNOR TO THE PLANTERS COMPRESS COMPANY, OF WEST VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 653,734, dated July 17, 1900. Application filed August 24,1899l Serial No. 728,286. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WATSON M. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suifolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Feeders for Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in feeders for presses; and its object is to provide a yielding section to the feeder.

The invention consists in substantially the construction hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing reference-letters designate the parts with which they are connected.

The single figure in the drawing illustrates in side elevation a single feeding device forming part of the feeding mechanism, but with part of the yielding foot in section.

The feeder forming the subject-matter 0f the present invention is applicable to a number of different kinds of presses, but is particularly designed for use in connection with the form of press shown and described in the patent to George A. Lowry, No. 630,369, granted August 8, 1899.

In the drawing a single member of the feeding mechanism is illustrated. There should be as many feeding members as there are slots in the cap-plate of the press, and ordinarily eight slots are employed. These feedin g members are adapted to be given a reciprocating movement toward and away from the slotted cap-plate by any suitable mechanism; but as this mechanism forms no part of the present invention it is not shown or described.

A designates one member of the feeding mechanism, which is constructed of any suitable material, but preferably of metal, with numerous openings through it to secure light ness, as shown. This feeding member should be provided with an independently-movable section at the lower portion thereof, which is designed to yield when too much cotton gets between it and the slot in the cap-plate, and thereby prevent the cotton from being packed too tight. In the form shown this movable section, which is designated by the referenceletter B, is pivoted at the inner end to the upper section of the feeding member, although this construction is not a necessary part of .the invention.

Between the movable part B and the upper part of the feeding member a spring 0 may be placed, so as to interpose an elastic resisting medium against the movement of the member, and it has been found convenient to guide the movable part with reference to the other section of the feeding member and limit its downward throw by the guideway O, the ledge or shoulder D, and the hook E. r

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The feeding member is by any suitable mechanism given a suitable movement toward and away from the slotted cap-plate and serves to push the material down toward such cap=plate,

and when too much material gets between the feeding member and the cap-plate orany ob struction intervenes between such parts the yielding section B will be lifted up, and thereby accommodate the feeding mechanism to the condition of affairs and prevent the pack ing of the material too tight or a severe impact against the obstruction.

. It is obvious that persons skilled in the art may widely vary the construction above described without departing from the principle of the invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the details shown and described.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, a feeder having an under section pivoted to it at one end and a spring interposed between said section and feeder whereby the former is permitted to yield in an upward direction toward said feeder: substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Inamachine forcompressing fibrous material, a feeder having an under section pivoted to it and a spring interposed between the free end of said section and the feeder whereby said feeder may be yieldingl y advanced to its work: substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7 w I 3. In a machine of the class described for compressing fibrous material, a feedplate having a length corresponding approximately to the length of the slot in which the material is to be fed, and having a lower section pivoted thereto at one end and otherwise free to terial, a feeder having a foot movable with move upward toward the main body of the reference thereto, an interposed spring, a feed-plate and a spring interposed between guideway, and a stop to limit the downward 15 said section and feed-plate whereby the latmovement of the foot; substantially as and 5 ter may be yieldingly advanced to its work: for the purpose set forth.

substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 4. Inamaehine foroompressing fibrousmahand, this 21st day of August,v1899, in the terial, a feeder having a foot pivoted at-one presence of the subscribing witnesses.

end thereto and guided thereon at its other A WATSON M. HOLMES. IO end, with an interposed spring; substantially Witnesses:

as and for the purpose set forth. WM. M. RHEEM,

5. In amachine for compressing fibrous ma- D. W. HOWLAND. 

